hutchinson r



i Jan- 17 1933. l F. c Hu-ncHlNsoN Re- 18,715

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AND SHEARING LONG STOCK originai Filed Feb, 5.1927 s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Iii/WK Cou."/Ywzff/l/vso/ClyI BY EBS/arm0a, 17E

vATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1933. HUTCH|NSON l I Re. 18,715

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AND SHEARING LOING STOCK Original Filed Feb.5, 192'? 5 Sheets-$heet 2 mvENToR Q1 HWI/wf COLE iff/Temse F U a.' IEdin agrrgo Agric/VEA Jan. 17, 1931i.

F. c. HLJTcl-INSONA Re. 18,715

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AND SHEARING LONG `STOCK Original Filed Feb.5. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet mvENToR Yfk/YNK CoLE Hucfmsjojx B B E a ETH/SHUTWdo? Ass/aufs.

i ATTORNEY Reissued Jan. 1'7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANKCOLE HUTCHINSON, DECEASED, LATE OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, BY THE F. B.SHUSTER COMPANY, OIF-NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGII'E'E This MACHINEFOR STRAIGHTENING AND SHEARING- LONG STOCK Y Original No. 1,703,885,dated March 5, 1929, Serial No. 166,165, iiled February 5, 1927.Application for invention relates to means rfor straightening andshearing wire or other long relatively narrow 'metallic stock, andvparticularly to a. machine for thisV purpose which is adapted to receivesuch stock as it is delivered to the user in large coils, feed the stockfrom such a coil while deforming it into a new metallic set includingstraightening the stock out into a straight piece and shear off portionsof said stock of uniform predetermined length after the samesuccessively have been so deformed so that each successively sheared offsub-length shall include the same length of'meta-l without bends eX-tending transversely of its length resulting from its curved metal setin the original coiled form. The invention also relates to improvementsin the shearing mechanism employed as an element of such machine.

One of the purposes for which metal stock of the kind referred to isused is in placing wires around packing cases and the like, and portionsof wire used for this purposerequire not only to be cut from thel coil1nto appropriate lengths, but also to be fully straightened out'in orderto obtain uniformity of cut lengths and to facilitate handling andsecuring around the case.

\One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a simpleand economical apparatus by which the above and similar uses may beaccomplished in a satisfactory and eiiicient manner. l

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in theclaims hereof, one embodiment of the same being illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in this specification as an example.l

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machineconstructed, according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of the machine, looking from the left,Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking in the opposite direction and showingthe other 'end of the machine at right in Fig. 1, including the parts inrear of Fig. 1;

reissue filed March 4, 1931. Serial No. 520,126'. p

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the exemplary machine; and

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and on an enlarged scale,vshowingcertain shearing features of the machine, and showing certain featuresthereof in a modified form.

In carrying this invention into Veffect in the embodiment thereof whichis selected for illustration inthe accompanying drawings and fordescription in this specification, there is provided a supporting frame11 uponwhich are mounted the operative parts of the machine. The coil ofwire or Iother form of long relatively narrow metal stock to be deformedand straightened and sheared into uniform sub-lengths, is fed in at theforward end of the machine shown at the left in Fig. 4. Two Wires areshown, designated 12. These wires pass through perforated guides orinlet members 13 (see Fig. 4) and then pass rightward to rearsuccessively between a series of straightening deforming devices 14 and15, suitably mounted on the supporting frame 11 of the machine (seeFigs. 1 and 4). These metal-deforming devices preferably are rollers orrotating disks, and they have peripheral grooves to receive the stockwhen it is not of flat cross-section. Adjusting devices 16 are shown bywhich the position of these rollers 14, 15 may be changed so as toaccommodate any long stock of different thicknesses.

At the beginning of the operation the stock is forced through theperforated guides 13 and between the rollers 1%15, if necessary thestock-end being initially threaded through by hand, left to right, andfrom there the stock is led to the drawing or stock-'feeding devices30on or operatively connected with the main driving shaft 17. It will beunderstood that the structurel and operation of this improved apparatusmay be duplex, that is to say, as shown, it is capable of taking caresimultaneously of two long lengths 12 of relatively narrow stock runthrough the machine side by side, though at a suitable distance apart,or of operating upon stock from either one or two coils thereof asdesired. In the mechanism now to be described, where the various partsare mentioned, but with no explicit reference to the doubling ofoperations above referred to, it must be understood that certain ofthese parts may be duplicated in the machine, as shown, while other`parts are common to both sets of mechanism, all of which, however, willbe easily understood by an inspection of the. drawings in connecend,inside of the driving and idler pulleys,

shaft 17 carries a similar gear wheel, which is not easily discerned inythe drawings but which may be seen by. a careful inspection 'of Fig. 2where the wheel mentioned is desig-v nated 10. Above the shaft 17 areadjustably journaled (as hereinafter described) a pair of shafts 26 and26a. The ends of these shafts carryv gears 27 and 59 respectively (best.shown in Fig. 4), the gear 27 meshing withl the gear 28 on one end ofthe shaft 177, and the gear 59 meshing with ,a corresponding gear 10 onthe other end of the shaft 17 (only seen in Fig. 2). On the shafts 17,26 and 26a, intermediate their ends, are saidr grooved` drawing orfeeding wheels or rolls30 between which the stock passes and by whichthe same is drawn through the machine. These stockpulling wheels arebest shown in Fig. 4, where the upper'pair is designated 30. The upperwheels are also shown in Fig. 2, the corresponding lower wheelsappearing less clearly and partially in dotted lines.

The shafts 26 and 26a are adjustably journaled, so as to permit theupper feeding wheels 30 thereon to be raised or lowered slightly andthereby brought nearer to or further away from the lower pair of wheels3() on the shaft 17. This object is attained by journaling the shafts 26and 26a in swinging arms 90 (best shown in Fig. 1) four in all, twol forthe shaft 26 and two for the shaft 26a.v Arms 90 at one end aresupported pivotally on the shaft 91, and at the other end are capable ofvertical adjustment by mea-ns of-adjustingV devices 92.

The obj ect. of this method of mounting is to permit wires or other longmetal stock of different gauge4 to be operatedupon at the same time indupleX` in the two sides of the machine, this being rendered possiblebya slight adjustment in the distance between the pair of feeding wheels30 on one side of themachine or the` other. l y

As the longstock is drawn Vinto the machine bythe feeding wheels 30, itpasses into a tubular guide 35, which cannot be very clearly shown inthe main drawings, although its position is indicated in Fig. 4. Thisdevice is, however, well shown in Fig. 5, which is a View on an enlargedscale 'of a modified form ofthe shearing mechanism of Figs. 144, withits appurtenant parts, altho Fig. 5 serves also to represent the partsin proximity to the shearing-tools in the main form ofthe inven:

tion as well. The tubular guide is screwthreaded so as to be movablysecured into the casting or tool-carriage 36, which is slidably mountedon the frame of the machine, Fig, 1, and which is reciprocatedrectilinearly along the stock by a link or pitman 37 pivotally kattachedthereto, and also pivoted by; the pin 8 to a wheel 40011 a shaft 41,Fig.A 4 Iin 8 being an offset from shaft 4l which opset; in thepreferred form shownisof an eccentric type which acts to impart harmonicmotiongto the tool-carriage 36, This wheel 4Q, hasa groove 42 in itsperiphery andin said. grooveA rides a loop of wire or the likebrake-band; 43, which is held taut by a spring 44 (see Fig. 1) and whichserves. as a brake to check the rotation of the wheel y andl its shaft41and to hold them still when the same isnot,

being operated'v by the other mechanismheref. inafter described. Asshown, saidbraking. mechanism isJ applied continuously, all the; time;the operation ofy the shearing mechanism being effected by power whichovercomes.

the effect of the brakev and the latter becoming. effective afterthecessation of theapplicajtion, of power to the shearingl mechanism, asin a manner to be described. The offsetconnection, 40, 8, 37 alsocooperates WthvSd braking. mechanism, when a clutch. to be. described isemployed, in restricting the operation of the. tool-carriage 36toasingle-complete recipro. cation along the lengthv of the stock,12.`

Movable with the cross-head, or tool-can. rier 36 are two cooperatingtools. adapted: to, shear the long stock 12 upvfintopontions ofpredeterminedv uniform suitableflen-gthsA as desired. In the ,embodimento-f the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the knifebla,de or tool45 is movable both vertically and; horizontally by power from shaft 41i.e., both along, the length of and across the stock; and flat springs 46,Fig. 4, are shown tending to hold said tool 45 upward out of the path ofstock 12. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the samel tool'isdesignated-47- and is shown as pushed down rectilinearly in carrier 36and normally held up by a helical spring 48 out ofl the path of. stock12 continuously advancing rightward. In practical use themodificationshownv in Fig. 5.

' is in many-respects preferable, as latsprings such as 46 are moreliable` to break; both.4

forms are considered, however,to .be within thespirit of. thisinvention. In Fig. 5, also, the shearingtool whichcooperates with knifeor blade 47 is shown; as a hollow die 9 iixedf in shear-'head 36 andcarried thereby back and forth rectilinearly along the length of thestock in alinement with guide 35, this die 9 being the first of the twotools in the right- Ward direction of stock-feed and being interiorlyformed to lit stock l2, 'and tool 9 being freely reciprocable by head 36rectilinearly back and forth along the periphery rof continuously movingstock l2. Shearing is effected by the cooperative action of the rightIend of this tool 9 and the lower end of knife,

blade or tool 45 or 47, which is held in a recess in carriage 36 in aposition beyond tool 9 in the direction of the stock-feed. As shown inFig. 5, hollow tool 9 preferably is ared at left to facilitate entranceof the end of stock l2 when the latter first passes rightward from itscoil and thru shear-head or tool-carrier 36; but the remaining hollowinterior of tool 9 at the right preferably is formed to fit the stockapproximately so as to constitute a support holding the stock i12 rigidup against the other tool 47 as the latter moves down across the end oftool 9 and across the stock while the stock is moving rightward at theinstant of shearing, at substantially the same rate as the rightwardmovements of the two tools 47, 9 at the instant of shearing. Thus, asthe first or hollow tool 9, regularly makes a complete rectilinearreciprocation horizontally with its carrier 36, (very short relative tosheared sub-lengths) caused (in the example) by the offset mechanismsuch as 8, 40 and by pitma-n 37, said tool 9 continues to surround thestock and rides back and forth along the stock supporting the latter inall the different relations of tool 9 and lstock l2 during the shortrectilinear reciprocations of the tool and during the continuousmovement of the stock in one direction. As shown, Fig. 5, the

mounting) of the other or second shearing tool 47 yond tool 9 in thedirection of stock-feed (to right, Fig. 5), prevents interference bytool 47 with the supporting of the stock by hollow tool 9 when tool 47for shearing is forced across the stock and across the end of tool 9;but the arrangements for tool 47 are such, as shown, that it alwaysmoves with tool 9 back and forth along the stock; and second tool 47also is so mounted just rightward of tool 9 that when it is forcedacross the stock it passes in contact with and alongside the right endof tool 9 for proper conduct of the operation which is a true shearingoperation not necessarily involving cutting thru the steel stock by acutting edge of tool 47. At the instant of shearing, both tools aremoving at the same speed and in the same direction as the moving stock,(rightward) so that at that instant the stock is not issuing from ormoving relative to the right end of hollow tool' 9. At that criticalinstant, however, the stock not only is supported by the lower portionof tool 9, but

the upper portion of the latter, closed around the top of the stock,holds rigid the portion of the stock just to the left of the cooperatingends of the two tools, so that the shearing of the continuously movingstock by the short-stroke shearing means as a whole is effected underconditions when the stresses by the tools on the metal stock cannotproduce any undesirable movements, out of proper shearing position, ofsaid portion of the stock to the left of the tools. Also, and when,after completion of shearing, the rate of movement of the shearingmechanism in the same direction as the stock begins to be reduced,(owing to the harmonic action of the Apreferred offset mechanism such as40, 8, 37)

then the continuation of the uniform and rightward feeding movement ofthe stock causes the fresh right end of the latter to emerge from theright end of hollow tool 9, even before the tools reach the end of theirrightward movement; the-'rate of such einerN gence increasingcomparatively gradually as the rate of thevtools rightwardly decreasesuntil they reach the end of their rightward movement along with thestock. lso, when thereafter the shearing mechanism commences itsmovement leftward, (the stock continuing to move rightward), the rate ofemergence of the stock rightward beyond hollow tool 9 is increasedabruptly and continues as the shearing mechanism is move-c backleftwardpositively by parts 40, 8, 37. But during all the time when the shearingmeans may be moving leftw'ard, the hollow tool 9 rides along stock l2 inthe opposite direction from the stock movement, and at all timessupports the left-hand portion of the stock of which the right-handportion is moving to increasing distances rightward of the two tools.

The extent of the rectilinear reciprocation of the carriage 36 and thetools along the stock is extremely short as compared with the shearedsub-lengths of stock, i. e., of the order of inches as distinguishedfrom feet of sub-lengths. Also in any case the rate of movement duringthe reciprocation is much slower than the rate of stock-feed save at theinstant of shearing; the horizontal toolrate being of course zero at theends of each direction of reciprocation whether the tool-reciprocationsbe continuous, or intermittent as shown and preferred.v In the example,wherein a clutch is employed as preferred, the reciprocations occupyonly a. small portion of the total time of operation of the machine as awhole, and occupy only small portions of the successive times occupiedin pulling the portions of stocl by the continuously power-operatedfeed-rolls 30. In this preferred form with clutch, most of each saidstock-portion for each shearing operation is fed, in the example, whilethe shearing mechanism is in a normal position of rest at left at anextreme limitof its movement along the length of the stockpreferably a'tthe left as shown; and the stock-length then fed extends rightwardlybeyond tool 9, Fig.

5. The successive shearing cuts by the tools 9, 47 are intermitent ofcourse even if a clutch be not employed but carriage 36. be

Ymoved continuouslyv back and forth.

The'support 80, Fig. 4, cooperates with hollow tool 9 in supporting thestock, as will be described hereinafter, support' 8O continuing thus toact during the successive shearing operations as well as when thecarriage 36 may have zero rate as at left and right, so that by thejoint action of supporting tool9 at left, Fig. 5, and of support 80, atright, Fig. 4, the length of stock extending well to the right beyondthe shearing mechanism, is supported, during shearing,

' in a position which insures proper conduct of the shearing operation.As a basis for the described shearing operationat the instant when theshearing mechanismis movingai the same speed in addition to the samedirection as the stock, the mechanism which conas shown, for examplebeing driven Ifrom the gears which rotate the shafts of said feedrolls30. On such basis, the particular mechanism disclosed is as stated inthe following paragraph, by way of exam-plie, for the purpose of forcingtool 47, Fig. 5, across the end i of hollow tool 9 by the power fromshaft 41 and of doing so at the instant when the movement of both tools9 and 47 rightwardly along ythe stock has beenaccelerated from theirnormal zero rate of movement at extreme left to the point toward theright where they are moving at the same speed the stock.

Suitably supported in a pair of upwardlyextending arms 50 on frame 11,Fig. 1, are

swinging links 51 (best shown in Fig. 5) pivotally attached to so thatthey may swing leftward but are prevented from swinging to the right.The lower ends of these links 51 carry cam-rollers 52. The upper end ofthe blade 47 is beveled, to forma cam-surface, as best shown in Fig. 5,and when the sliding carriage, shear-head or toolcarrier 36 is drawn bythe link 87 rightward in the direction of stock-movement towardclutch-shaft 41, Fig. 4, the beveled or cam surface of tool 47 passesunder the cam-roller 52 and said ltool is depressed forcibly by thepower of the movement of carrier 36 forced rectilinearly by shaft 41,etc., (because links 51 cannot swing rightward) thus causing the lowerend of the tool 47 acting alongside tool 9 to shear stock 12 at apredeterminedipoint of the movement ofthe two toolsfrightward in thedirection of stock movement when said movements of both stock and toolsare synchronous in speed as well as identic in direction. While the twotools are being returned positively leftward by movement of link 37toward the left during the latter half of its reciprocation, then thelink 51 is freeto--be swung leftward out of the way of Vthe upper end oftool 9 and is so swung by `the upper left unbeveled upper end of thetool 47 moving leftward with carrier 36 andlink 37, until 51 rides upover tool 9 and falls downinto its normally operative position shownl inFig. 5, after the tool 47 moving leftward has passed beyond link 51. v

The pitman or link 37 is operated by the wheel 40, which is fast on theshaft 41, inthe following manner, 'wheel 40 serving as a crank-arm byvirtue of the mounting of link 37 eccentrically to it by crank-pin 8,offset from shaft 41, Fig.'4. Also keyed on to said shaft 41, so thatwhile axially slidable thereon it is not relatively rotatable, is (intheexample) a normally stationary but intermittentlyrotated driven clutchelement 56, which is adapted toy engage with the continuously rotated ordriving clutch element 55, which, with pinion 57 is loose on said shaft41,` these clutch-elements as shown involving positive interlocking asby their toothed periferies and exemplifying lthe various known types ofpositive locking clutches which may be employed as distinguished from)ordinaryfriction clutches involving uncertain or variable slippagesbetween the'clutch-elements, the positive-actingftypev of clutch beingemployed in this invention to provide vfor the production in a manner tobe described, of predetermined uniform -lengths of sheared sub-lengths,in combination with thecontrols hereof which also are designedandarranged. k

for production of such uniform lengths. The driving clutch element 55 iscontinuously Ifotated during the operation ofthe machine, as by gears 57and 10 (see Fig. 4), and particularly by large, heavy gear 58, providinghigh momentum. Shaft 41 normallyisstatio-nary with driven clutch element56. The mass of large1 continuously rotating'gear58 assists, as afly-wheel, in tstarting shaft 41 quickly, under load of parts 40, 37,andthe shearing means including carriage 36, etc.

An exemplary means for controlling the intermittent operation ofpositive-locking clutch 55-56, i. e., predetermining the length ofsheared sub-lengths, isasfollows. Toward the rear of the machine atright, Fig. 4, is a sprocket-wheel 60. A cooperating sprocket wheel 62is slidably andadjustably supported on a long upwardly extending arm 61,Fig.1,-above the -wheel 60. .The vertical sprocket chain 63 enga es withthe fixed sprocket and adjustab e sprocket 62, Fig. 3, and is adapted tobe adjusted readily to different lengths as the upper or adjustablesprocket 62 may be set or adjusted at a higher or lower point upon therelatively long vertical arm 61 which supports said adjustable sprocket62. The sprocket 60 is fast on a lower shaft 64, and another sprocket 65also is fast on this shaft (best shown in'Fig. 4)`. Over fixed sprocket65 a driving chain 66 runs horizontally leftward to the sprocket 67 onthe shaft 26a (see Figs. 1 and 4). yThe rotation of shaft 26a andsprockets 67 and 65 moves the vertical sprocket chains 63, in the abovesystem, in a manner which will be well understood, counter-clockwise, i.e., downward in the direction'of the arrow in Fig-1, and rightward in,its lower path. A small pin or cross bar 70 best shown in Fig. 4 issecured to the vertical chain 63 which passes over adjustable sprocket62, and as this pin 70 on chain 63 passes downward and then rightward itoperates the sliding stop 71, Fig. 4, drawing the same rightward out ofengagement with the cam 72 on the surface of driven clutch element 56fixed on stationary shaft 41, (see Fig. 4). Upon said disengagement ofsaid stop 71 from said cam 72 by means of pin 70, the springs v73,previously compressed, force the sliding toothed' driven clutch member56 axially along shaft 41 into positive locking engagement with thetoothed driving clutch member 55, which is rotated continuously(clockwise, Fig. l) by pinion 57 and large gear 58 (anti-clockwise),whereupon clockwise rotation is imparted to driven clutch member 56 andits normally stationary shaft 41, the teeth of member 36 having meshedwith clockwise rotating driving member 55 loose on shaft 41. The speedof revolution of pin 7 0 around the sprocket system 60, 62 can beincreased greatly by adjustment of wheel 62. Figs. 3 and 4, down closerto wheel 60, thereby causing production of Shorter sheared sub-lengthsof stock. But for any given adjustment of wheel 62 along its longsupport 61., the positively-locking clutch 55-56 acts uniformly to startmovement of the shearing-means, i. e., after the same length of stockhas been fed by coordinated wheels 30 to the right of tool 9. The aboveinterlocking engagement of toothed (or otherwise positively locked)clutch-members 55-56 turns the normally stationary or driven clutchelement 56 and through it the normally stationary clutch-shaft 41 andwheel 40. (both clockwise) and thereby said transmission. including themechanism between driven clutch element 56 and the parts in Fig. 5including link 37, translates the intermittent rotary clockwise motionof driven clutch member 56 positively into both directions of harmonicreciprocating motion of carriage 36 and of the two shearing tools 47, 9

back and forth along the line of lengthwise rightward feeding motion ofthe stock 12; the hollow shearing tool 9 around the stock traveling orriding back and forth along the moving stock and, as above, supporting,during the shearing operation, the left end of the van portion ot' thelong stock while portion is about to be sheared' oii, and said tool 9supporting the stock previously during its feeding movement rightwardlybeyond the tools and toward its position during shearing when the rightend of the stock is supported by guide 30 of Fig. 4.

The two clutch elements 55 and 56 remain in engagement for apredetermined time after the'rightward initial movement of the shearingmechanism 36, etc. as a whole along the stock has been reversed, so'that the power of the clutch is employed to cause the positive completereciprocation of the tools and the carrying means such as 36 forexample. The shearing mechanism including hollow tool 9 is movedby theclutch leftwardly rectilinearly toward the end of its stroke at leftwhile stock 12 continues moving rightward. F or example, as shown,the'clutch 55-56 is engaged until the wheel 40 has made a completeclockwise rotationand the shearing mechanism including carrier 36thereby returned to the end of its leftward movement, at which time thesaid clutch members are separated (against springs 73, compressing them)by the action of the inclined surface cam 72 on the stop 71, in a mannerwhich will be well understood; the braking mechanism, as 43- 44 above,checking the rotation of wheel 40, upon such clutch-disengagement, andholding it at rest at the end of its single rotation until the nextoperati-on of the variable speed mechanism including pin 70 by chain 63and adjustable sprocket 62, and until the consequent next intermittentright-and-left cycle of operation of the shearing mechanism 36, etc.during the continuous rightward feed of long stock 12. As above, thisbrakingmechanism, altho continuously applied, does not come into motion-checking effect until instant of disengagement of the clutch elementsfrom their positively interlocking relation. The brake is most effectiveat that time however, in stopping the mechanism 36, etc. driven by rod37, because lof the harmonic horizontal movement of carriage 36, Fig. 5,by means of the oiiset mechanism 8, 40 whereby as carrier 36 approachesits normal position of rest at left, its rate is gradually reduced,notwithstanding that the rate ofrotating move-ment of the drivenclutch-member 56 always is uniform with feed-rolls 30 throughout each ofits intermittentV single rotations. Furthermore, the braking mechanismsuch as 43-44 is aided in checking the intermittent mechanism by theresilient means such as helical springs 73 which are compressed againstthe adjacent collar, Fig. 4, by the axial movement of normallystationary driven clutchmember 56 by means of the above action of stop71 on theA cam-surface 72 on driven clutch-member 56, said springcompression absorbing some of the energy of the intermittently movingparts. During the cycle of operations of the shearing mechanism and thesingle rotation of driven clutch-member 56 the latter, at its surfacenot formed with cam 72, moves idly against stop 71; but whenclutch-member 56, meshed with driver 55, has its cam surface 72 rotatedinto engagement with stop 71, then the power of the continued rotationof member y56 causes its camsurface 72 to push against stop 71 andthereby push dri-ven member 56 itself axially away from'drivingclutch-member 55l thereby disconnecting the shearing mechanism from themain driving shaft 17 which operates also the stock-feed rolls 30synchronously with 40. During such vaxial movement of driven member 56the springs 73 are compressed, and assoon as driven member 56 isdisconnected from its vdriving member 55, the momentum of theintermittent mechanism including carrier 36 and member 56 is exerted infinally compressing springs 73 which thereby assist the-.other brakingrmea-ns such as 43-44 and the harmonically operating offset mechanism,in bringing the intermittent mechanism including carriage` 36 to a stopat its normal position of rest at left.

Thereupon stop 71, and clutch-member 56 with its cam surface 72, remainstationary until stock-length-controlling pin 70 again, after itsadjusted predetermined time of revolution, draws stop 71 rightward awayfrom its position against cam 72 holding member 56 and its shaft 41 intheir normally stationary positions holding springs 73 undercompression; whereupon the energy stored in they springs quickly forcesclutch-member 56-,axiallytoward and into driving engagementwithcontinuously rotating driving clutch-member (positive instantly uponengagement) to cause start of rotation of shaft 41 and the nextintermittent cycle of the offset and shearing mechanism always at thesame Ytime after contact of with 71. Thus, as the energy stored insprings 73 by their cooperation in Y braking the driven mechanism, isutilized in causing clutch-engagement, so thereupon, the momentum of thecontinuously .operated driving mechanism including large heavy flywheelgear 58, instantly, upon positiveclutchengagement, overcomes the inertiaof the normally stationary shearing mechanism and shaft 41 and movesshear-carriage 36 thru its cycle of horizontalreciprocationV along thepath of feed of the long metal stockgand the time intervals betweensuccessive shearcuts, (and between successive clutch-engagements when aclutch is employed), during which intervals most of the continuousstock-v to'slow up, harmlessly, during shear-cutting,

the rate of stock-feed by rolls 30 and of driving clutch-member 55coordinated with said rolls, there is ample time for the automaticspeeding up-of the mechanism including main drive-shaft 17 and heavygear 58 which con- I tinuously drives clutch-member 55', to its normalyrate which is sufficient not only properly to move the shearingmechanism as a whole from left but toI force toolr 47 promptly down andup, along tool 9 and across the stock for proper shearing and returnmovement of tool 47 out of the stock-path. Thus in this machine arecombined the features ofV ample power for shearing and oftimely'accuracy in respect of reciprocably operated mechanism ofsubstantial mass needed for strength to withstand abrupt applicationsof. substantial power and reversals of direction of reciprocation. I

Aswill be seen from Figs. 1 and 4, upper right, the variable speedmechanism vincluding pin`70, carried by long chain 63, has a longmovement up and down along each side of lon-g arm 6-1, and the speed ofrevolution of the pin as a master control corresponds with the lengthsof stock to be'sheared and fed riglitWard-ly beyond theV shearingmechanism before shearing and during the time between successiveactuations by pin 70 of the. stop 71, i. e., between successiveshearingcu-ts. The purpose of this construction, including adjustable member 62,is that longer .or shorter lengths of stock, as may be desired, may befed by rolls 30 beyond tool 9, between the suecessive shearing cuts bythe tools 47, 9, thus permitting longer or shorter lengths of thecontinuously moving'stockto 'be sheared 0H; The action is uniform in allsuccessive opera-- tions, including the slight but uniform Ylags inconnecting and disconnecting clutch elements 55, 56 or theirpositive-locking equivalents, so that for a given adjustment for lengthof sheared sub-lengths, the tool 47 always passes alongside tool 9 downvand up, at the same-instant relative to the-movement of both tools alongthe stock, and tool 47 is moved by thel power of pitmen 37, Fig. 5, atthe same speed as l'the stock at the instant of shearing, that is, whenthe speed of carriage 36 has been accelerated rightward to the speed ofthe stock but before it has been decelerated below thev speed of thestock. The adjustability of slidable controlling member 62 to differentdefinite'positions relative to its relatively long path oflradjustability along the length of its supporting member 61,-( causingthe longer or shorter times of revolution of pin 7 0, corre-I spondingtimes of operation of clutch-stop 71, and correspondin g durationsofjstocl-feedin g, as desired, between successive shearing operations),constitutes a means enabling 'the user of the machine to employ it ondifferent occasions for producing different desired uniform shearedstock-lengths while continuing to employ the same unalteredtime-coordinated transmissions to the stock-feeding rolls and to thecontinuously rotating means which operates the shearing tools, as wellas the same unaltered transmission between the driven clutch element 56and the offset and shearing mechanism, such convenient adj ustment ofstock-lengths being distinguishec fromconstructfons necessitating theremoval of one set of gearing elements change gears) imparting a givenfrequency of shearmg operations desired on one occasion, and replacementof such set with a different set of gears imparting a differentfrequency desired on a dfiferent occasion. This result is due to thefactthat the slit able or adjustable member such as 62 along long supportingmember such as 6l is included as an element of a clutch-startingmechanism which for the functionthereof is substantially independeni of,i. e., outside of the lines of the time-coordinated power transmissionsto the feeding and shearingmechanism, altho as sho-wn, this adjustablefrequency-controlling mechanism is operated continuously, by power fromthe continuously operatfng mechanism of the machine, (i. e., in theexample shown, by the mechanism also operating the feed-rolls 30), sothat dierent uniform sheared lengths can be cut at various timesaccording to adjustment by the user without altering the manufacturerspermanent cons -ruction of any of the gearing or other parts of themechanisms for either feeding the stock or operating the shearingmechanism. Furthermore, the adjusted positions of control member 62 atdifferent portions of its relatively long adinetment path along itssupport 6l necessarily afford indication of the length of stock-portionssheared olf while a given adjustment of adjustableelement 62, l,effective Ying to the fact that such different positions along the longsupporting memberl correspond to and predetermine different uniformstock-lengths actually sheared in accordance with any given adjustmentustable element 62, Fig. l. The preferred provision of thepositive-locking clutch members -56 and the above positively operatedmeans respectively effecting engagement and disengagement of theclutch-members, provides for uniform operations of the clutch for eachsuccessive intermittent shearing operation, at any desired adjustment ofthe mechanism as by member 62 for causing the positive clutchengagementsat `the critically proper times necessary to produce uniformity oflengths of sheared sub-lengths. And the .lach of gears and sprocketsbetween carrier 36 and j thefldriven member ofthe clutch also con-vtributes to the desired uniformity of shearedoff sub-lengths of stock.

The most important thing is that always there is the same time-intervalbetween the contact of with 71, and the initiation of driving ofclutch-member 56 by clutch-member 55.

As the end of the stoclr l2 is fed rightwardly beyond the tool-carrier36 and through hollow toolV 9 fixed thereon, the right end of the stockthen extending more or less Abeyond tool 9 is supported by a suitabletrough or other support 80, Fig. 4;, carried by main frame ll. Thissupporting means extends a substantial distance rightwardly beyond theshearing mechanism in the rightward direction of stock-feed, as shown,thereby accommodating the longer as well as the shorter lengths ofstoel; to4 be sheared off at the various points predetermined by therelatively adjustable members 6l, 62. Also stock-support 8O extendstothe left, Fig. 1, to a positionbelow but close to the line ofstockfeed so that a right end of the stoclr emerging from hollow tool 9fixed in carriage 36, 5, is supported by the left end of trough 80, Fig.4; said right stock-end before shearing moving rightward along the uppersurface of the bottom portion of its support 80; and the left end oftrough 80 extending as"close as practicable leftward to the right end ofrightward movement of the reciprocable carrier 36, Fig. 5, so that whencarrier 36 starts to move leftward, and when therefore the continuouslyfed stocl l2 moving rightward in the opposite direction very rapidlyaway from 16, then the left end of support 8O will receive on its topthe rightward end of the rapidly increasing length of stock extendingrightward of the shearing mechanism, F ig.'5. Alt-ho the long metalstoel; is fairly rigid yet its substantial length of a number of feet tobe sheared off could sag substantially rightivard of tool 9, and theillustrated leftward extension of support 80 toward the shearingmechanism and close thereto and at about the level of the bottom of thepassage thru tool 9l insures against passage of such van end ofstock'without sagging below the level of the passage in supporting tool9, so that as the stock-end travels rightward of the shearing mechanismalong support 80, While the left end of the stock-portion to be shearedis being moved from left toward the shearing tools, said support 80 actsto support the right end of the stock extending rightward `from tool`9,5, and support 80 continues to hold the van of the stocl in properposition fo-r shearing by 9 and 47 While the left end of thestockportion to be sheared olf is supported, until completion ofshearing off of its van end, by hollow tool 9. Thus the long stock inprocess 'is supported during shearing by tool 9 and member 8O at twoportions of its length respectively fore and aft of the locus ofshearing, both of which portions are as close as practicable to theshearing point, i. e., the long stock is supported by hollow tool 9itself, at the right end of which is the shearing locus, against all butlongitudinal stockfeeding movement and the long stock is supported bythe left end of support or guide 80 which preferably as shown is asclose to the shearing locus as is practicable in view of thereciprocation of the shearing mechanism along the line of the stock andto and from the left end of guide 80. Also, as shown, the rightwardextension of support 80 acts to support the advancing stool; length atall its rightward portions before, during and after shearing. Also, asshown, support 8() is adapted as a guide for the stock alongthe line ofstock-feed, against lateral movements out of the proper longitudinalstock-path, by the provision of the vertical sides of the trough-shapedsupport 8O specifically illustrated, so that the stock is held laterallyas well as horizontally, at the right of the shearing mechanism, in thesame line of lengthwise feed as at the left of the shearing mechanismand between the latter and the stocksupporting feed-rolls 30 anddeforming rolls 14, 15. Upon completion of shearing of sublengths,relatively short but yet of substantial length, they are held by support80 until removed therefrom by hand or by any suitable deliverymechanism. In Fig. 4 duplicate supporting guides 8O are shown side byside,'this being one of several but not all the elements of the machinewhich are duplicated vin order to provide for simultaneous operations ontwo independent lengths of stock 12 12. Y

,Several important elements of the duplex machine shown are common tothe sets of mechanism which operate on the two independent lengths ofstock 12,12, the shearing operations being conducted simultaneously onthe two separate stock lengths fed from two independent stock-coils tostraightening rolls 14, 15. Thus, in a duplex machine embodying theinvention, altho there is necessary duplication of the power-operatedstockfeed rolls 30, independently adjustable feedshafts 26, 26a, and theshearing tools 45, 9, guide 35, and the stock-support 80, etc., yet thecombination is such for economy of cost of construction that the samedriving and transmitting mechanism operating said feeding mechanism andoperating and controlling the shearing mechanism, operates with respectto both said duplicated mechanisms for the two separate stock-lengths12, 12, i. e., Figs. 1 and 4, such apparatus common to the duplexoperations include main power shaft 17, the head 36 and link 37centrally thereof, Fig. 4, and all the rest of the mechanism forreciprocating 37-36 including positivelocking clutch 55-56 and theadjustable speed mechanism 62, etc., for controlling the clutch, allthese in fact constituting, with frame 11, the principal portion of themachine so that they as common principal parts can be made to operate ontwo long stock lengths simultaneously by the arrangement of saidprincipal parts as shown which provides for the combination therein ofthe above parts which are duplicated; the simultaneous shearing actionby the above duplicated parts, to produce the same lengths of cut stockfrom both long stock-lengths, being obtained by way of the adjustabilityof the control member 62 for control of the simultaneous operations ofboth `of the two pairs of shearing tools.

The operation of the above machine and the further advantages of theinvention are as follows. As indicated in Fig. 5, the power of therightward movement of shear-head 36 causes downward movement of uppershearing-'tool 47 by way of roller 52; Long stock 12 has been movingrightwardly all the time, (1) while 36 has been at rest, (2) whilemoving rightward toward 52 which is the point at which tool 47 is forceddown across the end of die 9 for shearing, and (3) while tool 47 ismoving down to the stock. Thus the stock has moved rightwardsubstantially after commencement of the rightward movement of 36, and ata higher rate up tothe time of depression of upper tool 47. Adjustablesprocket 62 is set so that the total length of stock fed during (1), (2)and (3) above shall be of the desired sheared-off length. It is notpracticable to effect shearing by tools 47 and 9 simultaneously with theengagement of master control with sliding stop 71 which results inpermitting springs 73 vto slide driven clutch-element 56 into lockingengagement with driving clutch-element 55. It has been found to besuiicient that the elapsed time between the engagement of 70-71 and thedownward movement of upper tool 47, shall be uniform at all successiveshearings after the feed thru die 9 of the stock for a sub-length to besheared.

That elapsed time is made uniform here by cooperative construction ofthe shearing mechanism and the clutch 55-56. The shear.- ing mechanismand the operating mechanism between it and the clutch must be heavyenough to withstand the high stresses involved in the metal shearing. Assuch necessarily heavy, and normally stationary mechanism, it abruptlyputs on the clutch a heavy load the instant the clutch members areengaged to start moving the shearing mechanism from its normal positionof rest'. In order to avoid excessive stresses on the clutch, the massof the shearing mechanism here is reduced to the lowest limitsconsistent with strength as by way of the illustrated structure of parts36, 47 and 9, i. e., the slave parts which are reciprocatedintermittently by the clutch. And the intermittently-moved partsconnecting the reciprocating-head 36 to driving clutch-member 55 alsoare made light as shown, consisting only of said clutchmember, its shaft4l and mechanism 40, 8 and 37 connected to head 36. The mounting on themachine-frame, instead of on head 36, of parts 50-52 which causereciprocation of the upper tool 47 by the power from pitman 37, usefullyreduces the mass of the intermittently moving parts by dispensing with apower connection for tool 47 from y driven clutch-member 56, in additionto the Vconnection 37 from that clutch-'nember to head 36. Theillustrated simple arrangement involving the elimination of shafts,etc., between clutch-shaft 4l and head 36 also is useful in avoidingexcessive abrupt, intermittent stresses on the clutch-teeth. Thus thenecessarily fairly heavyconstruction of the intermittently movingmetal-shearing mechanism is kept down within bounds so that it is madepracticable to' apply power intermittently to the shearing mechanism tostart it abruptly from its normal position of rest wit-hout causingbreaking stresses on the clutch-teeth. Thus, after master has freeddriven clutch member 56 for sliding by springs 73 so as to intermeshpositively with drivin@r clutchmember 56, the interlocking clutch partswill not be broken by the stress abruptly applied to them by theinstantaneous connection of continuously rotating iy-wheel gear 58 withthe normally stationary parts 56, 41, 40, 8, 37 and shear-head 37. Gear58 is useful in over-coming the resistance of the shearing mechanism tostarting, and in providing sufficient momentum to overcome thesubsequent shearing load without slowinnr up the entire machine; but itis inevitable that such starting stresses will be applied by said gearabruptly to the clutch and normally stati onary shearing mechanism; butpractical use of the invention has proved thatthe above order ofeffective reduction of the masses of the intermittently moving partswill permit the inclusion of a positive-locking clutch in thecombination, and also the heavv momentum gear 58, altho of course theclutch is sub- ]ected to severe treatment by the power from the gear,every few seconds when the clutch is caused by master 70 to becomeoperative, so that it is necessary for the clutch to be constructed soas to withstand such rough treatment; and t-he faster the stock is fed,as is desirable, the more frequent will be the stresses on the clutch.The above provisions as to the lightness of the normally stationaryintermittently movable Aparts permits the illustrated positive-lockingcharacter of the clutch, and the practical use of the invention hasdemonstrated that such positive-locking construction of the clutch isessential to the production of uniform sub-lengths. Since the stock isfed continuously, including the time between the release ofclutch-member 56 by master v70 and the instant `when upper tool 47 ismoved across the stock-path by way of roller 52, any variation of thattime will cause variation of the length of stock fed b etween successiveshearings, and of course nonuniformity of sub-lengths. Experience hasshown that very substantial variations of sub-lengths result from theslightest variation of time in successive clutch-engagements, and thatsuch time-variations inevitably result if there is any possibility ofslippage between the 'clutch-elements as in the case of ordinaryfriction clutches. In the illustrated ,c

ing of the clutch which insures against variable slippage upon theapplication of the load of starting the normallv stationary shearingmechanism. For shearing the stock into uniform sub-lengths during itsfeeding movement, the machine is constructed as above so that at theinstant of shearing, (l) the stock and both tools move in the sainedirection and at the same rate, and (2) at the time of depression ofupper tool 47 alongside tool 9 and across the stock, the uniformstock-length has been fed to right of tool 9 along supporting guide 80.The first condition is provided for by the above described nower drivesof feeding-wheels 3()l and of the clutch, and the second condition bythe combination including the shearing mechanism and thepositive-locking clutch. As shown, wheel 40 is rotated clockwise, andtool 9 is arranged to be forced across the stock-path by rolls 52 at theinstant when offset 8, moving left to right, from nine to three oclockof the' revolution of wheel 40, is moving at the same rate as the stock,because in the example shown the pitman 37 is connected directly betweenoifset 8 and shear-head 36 so that the movement of the formerdirectlycauses movement of the latter. The location of parts 50-52 onthe machine frame is such as to force upper tool 47 across thestock-path at that instant of the movement of offset 8; and owing to thepositive-locking action of the clutch which insures uniformity ofsuccessive time intervals between contact of 70 with 7l and the start ofrotation of 56 by 55, the same length of stock 12' is fed between eachtwo successive engagements of tool 47 with the stock; because theexclusion of time variations between clutch-engagement and commencementof rotation of 56, causes uniformity of time intervals between such tooland stock engagements.

The important thing ioo its

izo

40. off at lthe instant when upper tool 47 isdeeffected bythis'positive, uniform clutch action is the initiation of rotation ofdriven clutch-member 56 always after the same time -stop 7l, with theresult of maintaining-coordination between the shear-cycles and thefeed-rolls 30, without variation by aberrations of clutch-slippingaction. The positivelocking clutch provides for timing of theshear-cycles to the stock feed, in addition to the timing by the othermechanism, of the rate of the tools to the stock-rate at the insant ofthe shear-cut. There is no diiiculty about adjusting the master to`operate always upon theelapse of the Sametime interval after a previousshear-cut; and there is no diificulty aboutstopping the shearingmechanism instantly upon its completion of a single complete revolution,as by the braking means shown, for the brake can be made to act on thelight-as-possible shearing mechanism, instantly upon disengagement` ofthe clutch-members by operation of clutch-disengaging cam 72, as soon asthe clutch has completed suicient movement (as one rotation shown)dependent on .the ratio between shaft 41 and pitman 37, to cause onecomplete reciprocation of the shearing mechanism. That is, there is nodifficulty about obtaining exactly one complete reciprocation for eachshearing operation, by means of the brake, and by the construction ofcam 72 and stop 7l so as to cause clutch-disengagement at the end of.the desired range of movement of driven clutch-member 56. And there isno diiculty about the ready adgustment of sprocket 62 so that master 70will act at a time when, all other conditions being right,

the desired sub-length of stoel; will be sheared pressed past die 9. Butmaster is powerless to insure uniformity of successive sublengths ofsheared stock if after its successive opera-tions to permit movementoff-driven clutch-member 56 into engagement with clutch-member 56, thereare variable time intervals, no matter how short, during which anvamount of stock will be fed causing substantial non-uniformity ofsub-lengths, as

when the driven clutch-member 56 is not ing, both tools will be movingalong the stock' at the same rate as the stock.' But it is they positiveflocking and uniform action ofthe type of clutch shown which insures,vin addition to proper action of the shearing mechanism itself, thatsuch action shall be atithe instant intended bythe adjustment ofsprocket 62, (to provide forthe desired times of 0peration of master 70)and not at some more or less later instant. The advantages ofthecombination in this machine of a positivelocking type ofuniformly-acting clutch with the low mass of the shearinginechanism, canbe appreciated by consideration ofthe fact that it is extremelyimportant that the successively sheared-of sub-lengths shall be uniformw'lthina small fraction of an inch, and a consideration of the furtherfact that if the stoclcbe fed continuously 'at the not very rapid rateof 150 feet per1ninute,(two and one half feet per second), a variationin time of clutch action, after clutch-engagezment, of only half asecond, will cause a variation of stock-movement by rolls 30 of fifteeninches instead of the permissive variationiof only a small fraction'ofan inch. It is plain that with'the inclusion of the positive-loclzingtype of clutch in thecombination of the machine hereof, the-.degree ofaccuracy` of uniformity canfbe made as great as may be desired. so thatnot only may the clutchfibe made effective in starting the shearingmechanism substantially instantaneously upon Vclutch engagement, butwhat is of greater importance, there will ybe substantially novariation, in successive clutch-operations, in

the lapse of time between'operation of master 70 andthe starting of theshearing.mecha-k nism; However,` notwithstanding-thc con-y trollingimportance of the uniformity of clutch operation in abruptlvinitiatingthe overcoming of the inertia of'thenormally stationary shearingmechanism, the timely action of the clutch-disengaging cam 72 and theeffective timely action of the braking means 43 and 7 3 on the shearingmechanism;

is also of greatY advantage `in insuring the stoppage of the shearingmechanism promptly upon: the completion of itssingle recipro'r cationalong the length of the stock, for it is this Ywhich insures that'theinitiation `of movement of the Vshearing mechanism always shall be fromthe same normal position of rest' and that in turn assures proper timelyaction of the shearing tools regardless of the "uniformity of clutchoperation; that is, it iii-r sures for example, among other essentialthings, that upper tool 47'shall be depressed at theinstant when the twotools have been moved along the stock for a suflicient distanceA toenable them to be moving at the same rate as (the stock. f Said timelystoppage of the shearing mechanism upon the completion of one completereciprocation along the length of the feeding stock also is ofimportance in preventing the stock emerging from die 9,-v

from saggingand passing below support This support 80 preferably extendsas far leftward as permitted by the rightward reciprocationof head 36,but under some conditions that is not a sufficient extent to prevent thestock from passing below 80. Control element T2 and the braking means,by limiting the shearing mechanism to a single complete reciprocatio-n,prevent'head 36, after returning leftward after shearing, from againimmediately moving rightward to some degree in excess of a completereciprocation. If once head 36 did that, and then thereafter its neXtreciprocation were no more or less than complete, its leftward movementmight occur before suiiicient stock had been fed for its van to passabove support 80, and such leftward movement of 36 then would leaveexposed to right of stock-supporting die 9, a lengthr of stocksuiiicient to sag down below the level of 80- before reaching it so thatthe continued further feeding of the stock would result in the stockpassing below S0. Control element 72 and the braking means thus causethe stock to pass above support 8O so that the latter can cooperate withstock-supporting die 9 in holding the steel stock in proper position forfeeding and preventing it from passing below support 80 and being jammedby the continuous stock-feeding causing or requiring stoppage of themachine.

By the above combination, accurately timed metal treatment is providedfor, notwithstanding that the instant when shearing can be effected isextremely short and critical. Not only is the length of stroke ofrecipro-l cation of the shearing tools along the length of the stockvery short (a matter of a few inches) as compared with the length ofsev-l eral feet of the sheared-off sub-lengths, but the portion. of thatstroke at which shearing of the stock in motion is practicable (whentools and stock are moving at the same rate) is very short owing to thefact that the tools are started from rest and are brought up to speedprogressively. Altho upper tool 47 reciprocates at right angles to andthru head 36, yet at the time it is depressed by roller 52, it is beingmoved rightward by head 36. In fact it is the power of the rightwardmovement of the head which causes forcible shearing depression of 47.Since tool 47 therefore moves simultaneously in two directions, itsshearing movement is along a curved line, for as it passes across thestock-path it is moving also with the stock. Just as adjustablemaster-sprocket 62 has no power to determine any time interval betweenclutch-tripping and starting of the shearing mechanisms by the clutch,so the positive-locking clutch has no power to determine the movementsof the two tools relative to one another and to the stock-path, thething which determines that being the structural relation of the twotools to one another and the nature of their actuating means back to theclutch-shaft 41. The

function of the adjustable master control 62, 70 is to predetermine thegeneral dimensions ofthe'sheared-oif sub-lengths for any givenadjustment of the master. the positive-locking clutch in the combinationis to predetermine the exact dimensions of the sub-lengths pursuant tothe general control of the master. The arrangement of Fig. 5 as to therelation of the shearing ltools providesl for the prompt downwardshearing movement of upper tool 47 immediately after the commencement ofthey rightward movement of both tools along the length of the stock,while yet the shearing load is not applied until after the starting loadhas been terminated by such rightward movement. The momentum of thecontinuously rotated heavy fly-wheel gear 58 is useful in handling bothsaid loads successively. llVhile'it is not necessary in accordance withthe invention that the offset shear-operating mechanism shall be limitedto connection to drive directly only one of the two shearing tools, anddrive the other indirectly by way of the carrier for the first tool, asshown and preferred, yet an arrangement substantially like thatdescribed wherein that is the fact is advantageousbecause it simplifiesthe construction and operation ofa machine which at simplest is not verysimple. Thus, in the exampledisclosed, the carrier 36 of tool 9 is theone here selected for operation by the oifset mechanism wherein thesingle connection 37 between the offset mechanism and` the shearingmeans provides the power for moving the tool 47 not only along the stockbut also at right angles thereto, i. e., alongside and across tool 9 andacross the stock-path, in addition to effecting the harmonic motion inprogressively beginning and ending the rectilinear movements of carrier36 and tools 9 and 47 in opposite directions exclusively along thestock. This drive of the second tool 47 by means 'of its powerconnection to carrier 36 for the first tool 9 has the advantage Ain anycase of limitingr the masses and the complication of parts desirable tobe reduced in the operation of imparting, rectilinear reciprocations toshearing means which must be suiiiciently strong and massive to shear`metal stock. y

While it is primarily the shearingl mechanism itself which isrcciprocally operated by the desired form of offset mechanism, yet inthe example, wherein a clutch is employed for effecting intermittentlythe operation of the shearing mechanism, the driven member of the clutchis connected in. such way to the shearing mechanism that the powerapplied by way of the clutchA positively operates the shearing mechanismand all the shearing parts in all directions of their movements andwithout dependence on the use of any springs between the clutch and theshearing tools.-

Furthermore here, speciiically and prefer- The function of ably, thetransmitting mechanism between the driven element of the clutch and theshearing means, is exclusively continuous,

Figs. 4-5, i. e., the connections 41, 40, 8, andV (5 37 for example,exclude all devices such'as gears, chain-sprockets, etc., which mightinvolve more or less lost motion. This latter is important for variousreasons including the provision for needed accuracy if the shearingoperations are to be so accurately timed as to insure absoluteuniformity of successively sheared sub-lengths of stock.

On account of the continuous stock-feed, an important advantage of thedisclosed practical form of a shearing machine of the short-stroke andoffset type is its higher production rate Vthan in the type employingstationary shearing means and interrupted stock-feeding heretoforeemployed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent is as follows: A

l. Ina long stock fabricating machine, the combination withstock-feeding mechanism, of fabricating mechanism reciprocable in linewith the direction of long-stock feed and including a fabricating toolsimultaneously additionally reciprocable to and from the moving stock; acontinuously rotating heavy fly-wheel having a rate coordinated with therate of the stock-feeding mechanism; a uniformly-acting,positive-locking clutch Voperated by said fly-wheel and intermittentlyconnectible to said fabricating mechanism; and

35. a master-control causing said intermittent connection of thefly-wheel-driven clutch and fabricating mechanism and adjustable indesired coordination with the stock-feed.

2. In a long stock fabricating machine, the

t@ combination with stock-.feeding `mechanism,

of a fabricating tool reciprocable both in line with the direction ofstock-feed and simul` taneously to and from the moving stock; revolvableeccentric mechanism intermittently effecting said tool-reciprocations; auniformly-acting positive-locking clutch having an element normallydisconnected from said eccentric mechanism; a constantly-rotatingflywheel continuously driving said clutch element at a rate coordinatedwith the rate of the stock-feeding mechanism; and mechanismintermittently tripping the positivelocking clutch at desired timescausing revolution of said eccentric mechanism by the moment of inertiaof the fly-wheel.

3. An apparatus of the kind described and converting long relativelynarrow metal stock successively and accurately into a plurality of formpredetermined lengths, said apparatus mounted in said frame forreciprocation along relatively short, straight sub-lengths of 'uni-V thelength of the long stock over a distance short relative to thesub-lengths; a shearing tool mounted in said cross-head for shearingmovement across the stock-path; continuously operating means drawing thelong stock thru said inlet and feeding the same in said path of shearingmovement ofsaid tool; an operating power connection to said cross-headand moving the latter along the length of the stock; and mechanismmounted 0n said frame and cooperating withsaid cross-head in thepositive movement thereof by said power connection, and positivelytranslating the power of said movement of the cross-head into positiveshearing'movement of said .tool in its direction across the stock-pathfor shearing.

4. An apparatus of the kind described and converting long relativelynarrow metal stock successively and accurately into a plurality ofrelatively short, straight sub-lengths of uniform predetermined lengths,said apparatus including in combination the following elements and partsamong the others: a frame, an inlet for the long stock, straighteningmeans near said inlet; a cross-head slidably mounted in said frame forreciprocation along the length of the long stock over a distance shortrelative to the predetermined sublengths of stock; a shearing-toolmounted in said cross-head for shearing movement across the stock-path;continuously operating means drawing the long stock thru said inletandfeeding the same in said path of shearing movement of said tool; and anoperating power connection to said cross-head which provides'powcr forboth the reciprocation of the cross-head and tool positively-in bothdirections along the length of the stock and for the positive operationof said tool for shearing across the path of the stock.

5. An apparatus of the kind described andV converting long relativelynarrow metal stock successively and accurately into a plurality ofrelatively short, straight sub-lengths of 'uniform predeterminedlengths, said apparatus including in combination the followingelementsand parts amo-ngthe others :a frame, an inlet for the longstock, straightening means near said inlet; shearing mechanism includinga tool and a support therefor, said tool being movable acrossthestock-path for shearing, and both the tool and the support beingmovable along thelength of the stock over a distance short relative tothe sub-lengths;`con tinuously operating means drawing the long stockthru said inlet and feeding the same in the path of said tool; vand anoperating power connection to said tool-support whichprovides power bothfor the movement of the support and tool y in a direction along thelength of the long stock and for the positivek operation of the tool forshearing, across the path of the stock.

6. An apparatus of the kind described and converting long 4relativelynarrow metal stock successively and accurately into a plurality ofrelatively short,straight sub-lengths of uniform predetermined lengths,said apparatus including in combination the following 'elements andparts among the others: a frame, mechanism mounted on said frame andVcontinuously feeding the stock longitudinally; shearing mechanismincluding two tools and means supporting them in shearing relation toone another, said shearing mechanism being reciprocable along the lengthof the stock 'over a distance short relative-to the sheared-offsub-lengths of stock, and one of said tools being movable also to andfrom across the stock-path and alongside the other tool for shearing;and shearoperating vmechanism positively moving said shearing mechanismin both directions of its reciprocation along the 'stock and once ineach such reciprocation positively forcing said cross-tool across thestock-path not only at an instant when said cross-tool is moving inthesame direction and at the same rate as the stock but at the instant whenthe same 5 length of stock extends beyond the tools as at the shearingcut of the next preceding shear-reciprocation.

7. An apparatus Iof the kind described, and as delined in claim 6,and-wherein the shearoperating Vmechanism includes means fixed in themachine frame in a location and arrangement causing the movement of thecross-tool across the stock-path by the power of the reciprocation ofthe shearing mechanism as a whole along the length of the stock.

8. An a paratus of 'the kind described, and as delined in claim 6, andwherein the means causing the movement of the cross tool in a directionto and fro across the stockpath includes a device mounted independentlyof the movable shearing mechanism and its operating mechanism anddisconnected from both said mechanisms, said device positively forcingthe cross-tool across the stock-path for shearing.

9, An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 6, andwherein the means for causing the movement of the cross-tool across thestock-path includes a device mounted independently of the movableshearing mechanism and its operating mechanism, and disconnected fromthem both, said device positively forcing the cross-tool across thestock-path for shearing; and said cross-tool means including also aspring arranged to be put under stress by said positive shearingmovementl of the tooland thereafter moving the' tool back out of thestock-path. e

10. An apparatus of the kind described and converting long relativelynarroa7 metal stock successively and accurately .into a plurality ofrelatively short, straight sub-lengths of uniform predetermined lengths,said apy. paratus including in combination the follow- "ingelements andparts among the others: a

frame, mechanism mounted on said frame and continuously feeding thestock longitudinally; shearing mechanism of small mass and including twotools and reciprocable along :the length of the long stock over adistance short relative to the sheared-oif sublengths, one of saidshearing tools being movable also to and fro across the path ofcontinuous stock-feed for shearing during feeding movement of the stock;and power operating mechanism positively moving said shearing mechanismin both directions of its reciprocation along the length of the movingstock; said operating mechanism being connected primarily to effectcomplete operation 1' of only one of said tools, and said tools beingcombined in said shearing mechanism in an arrangement whereby saidconnection of the operating mechanism for said complete operation ofsaid rst tool also transmits power to the other tool for the completeoperation of the latter.

11. An apparatus of the kind described and converting long relativelynarrow metal stock -successively and accurately into a plurality ofrelatively short, straight sub-lengths of uniform predetermined lengths,said apparatus including in combination the following elements and partsamong the others; a frame; shearing mechanism including two tools andreciprocable along the length of the long stock over a distance smallrelative to the sheared-oif sub-lengths, one of said shearing toolsbeing movable also to and fro across the path of the continuously movingstock for shearing; power operating mechanism including a clutch andpositively moving said shearing mechanism in both directions of itsreciprocation along the length of the moving stock; said shearingmechanism and the f operating mechanism between the clutch and theshearing mechanism having small mass, owing first, tothe connection ofthe operating mechanism primarily for complete operation of vonly one ofsaid tools, and owing, second,

to the combination of the two tools in the shearing mechanism in anarrangement wherein said connection of the operating mechanism for saidcomplete operation-of the first tool transmits power tothe other toolforcomplete operation of the latter; and mechanism predetermining the-length of sheare'd-off sub-lengths of stock, said mechanism includingmaster-controlling means recurrently tripping said clutch at timesgenerally predetermining the times of successive startings of movementof said shearing mechanism 'relative to the stock-feed, said prede-vterminingmechanism including also the provisionof a. positive-lockingconstruction of said clutch causing uniform time intervals betweentripping of the clutch and the startings of said shearing mechanism bythe clutch thereby more accurately determining the times of successivestartings of said shearing lcd mechanism relative to the stock-feed;said small mass of the shearing mechanism and its power operatingmechanism preventing breaking stress on the said positive-lockingconstruction of the clutch by the abrupt application of the load ofstarting said shearing mechanism.

12. An apparatus of the kind described and converting long relativelynarrow metal stock successively and accurately into a plurality ofrelatively short, straight sub-lengths of uniform predetermined lengths,said apparatus includingr the following elements and parts among theothers: a machine frame; shearing mechanism including a normallystationary head mounted on said frame and reciprocable with the shearingtools along the length of the long stock over a. dis-y tance shortrelative to the sheared-off sublengths, one of said shearing tools beingmovable also across the stock-path for shearing during stock-feedingmovement; mechanism for operating said shearing mechanism including aclutch and positively reciprocating said head in both directions of itsreciprocation along the length of the stock; and mechanismpredetermining the length of shearedofi:` sub-lengths of stock, saidmechanism including master-contro-lling means recurrently tripping saidclutch at times generally predetermining the times of successivestartings of movement of said shearing mechanism relative to thestock-feed, said predetermining mechanism including also the provisionof a positive-locking construction of said clutch Causing uniform timeintervals between tripping of the clutch and the startings of saidshearing mechanism by the clutch thereby more accurately determining thetimes of successive startings of said shearing mechanism relative to thestock-feed; said shearing mechanism having small mass preventingbreaking stresses on said positive-locking construction of the clutch bythe abrupt ap-` plication of the load of starting said shearingmechanism.

13. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 6, andwherein the kfirst of the tools in the direction of stockmovement isformed with a stock-supporting passage, and wherein a secondstock-supportis arranged beneath the stock-path but'close to the end ofthe stock emerging from said` tool-passage and close to the limit ofreciprocation of the tools in the direction of stockmovement; andwherein the stock-feeding means on the other side of the shearing toolsconstitutes a third means supporting the stock during shearing. Y

14. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 6, andwherein the shear-operating mechanism includes an offset means betweenthe clutch and the shearing mechanism and is constructed for movement ofsaid tools at a rate varying in harmonic motion, and wherein theelementsV arer arranged in a combination whereby both tools are operatedby the power of the same said offset means.

15. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andwherein braking means are provided for. stopping the shearing mechanisminstantly upon disengagement of the clutch-interlocking, said brakingmeans Vincluding a spring arranged for normal tendency to move theclutch-members into interlocking engagement, and including a brake-bandarranged for application to the mechanism intermittently driven by thedriving member of the clutch. v

1G. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andwherein the operating connection between said clutch and the shearingmechanism includes an offset mechanism, and the two tools' are combinedin cooperative shearing relation with one another and with a connectionfrom said offset to one of themin an arrangement wherein both tools areoperated by said` connection.

17. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andAwherein an offset device is included between said clutch and theshearing mechanism, a single shaft supports both the clutch and saidoffset device, and the two tools are combined in an arrangement whereinboth are operated by a connection from theoffset primarilyk to only oneof them.

18. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 6, andwherein one of the tools is formed Vwith a stock-passage enclosing andsubstantially fitting'the contour of the long stock, and a.guidingstock-support is provided for supporting the stock fed beyond thetools, and as the hollow tool rides back and forth along the movingstock, said support being formed with a lower portion sustaining theadvanced portion of the stock from downward sagging, andv with lateralportions guiding the stock along its path of feed and cooperating withthe hollow tool in supporting the moving stock in shearing relation withthe two tools.

19. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andwherein said shear-operating mechanism includes a revolvable voffsetdevice constructed to lie normally in general parallelism with themoving stock, and wherein said cross-tool is moved .by means of theoffset across the stock-path for shearing at the first instant, afterthe start of the offset from said parallel position, when said tool isbeing moved by the offset also in the same direction and at vthe samerate as the moving stock. y 20. An apparatus of the kind described,

of oppositely-disposed pinch-rolls and staggered rolls engaging oppositefaces of the stock, said oppositely disposed rolls having substantiallylarger diameters than those of the staggered rolls.

2L An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andwherein, in said frame, a plurality of shearing-heads are mounted forsimultaneous reciprocation along the length of the stock, each being ofthe character specified in said claim and carrying a pair of cooperatingshearing tools, all said heads and tools being both operated andcontrolled by the rest of the mechanism common to them and-includingsaid operating mechanism and predetermining mechanism. I

22. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andwherein poweroperated, oppositely-disposed rolls tightly engagingopposite faces of the stock are p rovided to feed it positiv-ely to theshearing mechanism operated by the positive-locking clutch, and theoperating transmission includes two inter-connected and exactlytimecoordinated lines, one connected to the feed rolls and the other tothe driving member of the positive-locking clutch.

23. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 6, andwherein are provided two inter-connected exactly time-coordinated powertransmission lines respectively connected to the stock-feeding means andto the shearing mechanism, the line connected to the feeding meansproviding for a rate of the stock adapted to the straightening means,and the line connected to the shearing mechanism and the shearingmechanism itself being constructed for movement of the latter in thedirection and at such rate of stock-movement.

24. An apparatus of the kind described, and as defined in claim 12, andwherein a shaft is arranged transversely of the machine and supportsboth said positive-locking clutch and an offset device operating theshearing mechanism. D

25. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, ofmeans continuously feeding the long metal stock lengthwise, of twoshearing tools; means carrying said tools and intermittently movablelengthwise of the moving stock in both directions; revolvable offsetmechanism causing said movement of said tool-carrying means and tools;resilient means normally holding at least one of the tools out of thepathof stock-feed, said tool being combined with an operating portion;and an abutment mounted on the frame in the path of movement of saidoperating portion along the stock and causing the power of said offsetmechanism by way of the movement of said tool-carrying means andtool-operating portion in one direction along the stock, to force saidtool positively across the stock-path for cooperative shearing actionwith the other tool; said abutment on the frame being freely movable bysaid operating portion out of the path of movement of saidtool-operating portion itself in the opposite direction along the stock.

26. The invention substantially as specified in claim 25, and whereinsaid abutment and operating portion are provided with cooperating meansincluding a cam surface on one and a roller on the other.

27. In a machine of the kind described, the

combination with means continuously feeding thelong metal stocklengthwise, of two shearing tools and mechanism intermittently movingsaid tools simultaneously in directionsI both along the line ofstock-feed and relatively toward one another across the moving stock forshearing, and back to normal positions of rest, said mechanism includingresilient meansfnormally holding at least one of the tools out of thepath of stock-feed and means positively forcing said tool to the stockfor shearing, temporarily overcoming the power of said resilient means,said last-named means including co-operating elements including a camsurface and a roller engaging therewith.

28. In a machine of the kind described, the combination withcontinuously operated means feeding the long metal stock lengthwise, ofshearing means; an offset device; a

positive-locking clutch intermittently operated and driving the shearingmeans by way of said offset device at a rate coordinated with the feedof the stock; said shearing means including two tools movablesimultaneously both along the length of the stock and relatively towardone another for shearing while moving in the direction of stockfeed;means supporting the tools and formed with a stock-passage guiding thestock between the tools in their normal positions; an operating shaftextending transversely of the machine; mechanism continuously operatingthe driving member of said clutch and including a heavy continuouslyrotated elcnient overcoming the inertia of the mechanism intermittentlyoperated by the clutch; mechanism braking the movements of theintermittently operating elements restricting their operation to asingle shearoperating cycle; said stock-feeding means includingrelatively adjustable pinch-rolls engaging opposite surfaces of thestock; a stock-guiding support extending beyond the shearing means inthe direction of stockmovement from a point close to the recipro` bytheuser for predetermination of sheared sub-lengths. y y

29.1n a machine of the kind described,

the combination "with continuously operated Vmeans feeding the longmetal stock lengthwise, of normally stationary shearing means; a clutchintermittently operated and driving the shearing means at a ratecoordinated with the feed of the stock; said shearing vmeans includingtwo tools movable relatively toward one another and the stock forshearing, and means located between the clutch and said tools and movingthem simultaneously into cooperative relations for shearing; meanssupporting the tools and formed with a stock-passage guiding the'stockbe-v tween the tools in their normal positions; mechanism continuouslyoperating. the driving member of the clutch and including a heavycontinuously rotated relemmtoverco'mingthe inertia of the mechanismintermittently operated by the clutch; mechanism braking the movementsof the intermittently operating elements restricting their operal tionto a single' shear-operating cycle; said stock-feeding means includingrelatively adjustable pinch-rolls engaging opposite surfaces of thestock; a stock-guiding support extending beyond the shearing means inthe u direction of stock-movement from a point close to the shearingymeans; the stock being supported during shearing atv at least threeportions of its length, i. e., at the feed-rolls, in the passage thrusaid tool-supporting means,

:and by said stock-guiding-support; mechanism causing engagement oftheclutch-elements, operated by power from the feed-rolls, and including anelementl adjustable by the user for predetermination of shearedsublengths.

30. An apparatus of the kind described and as defined in claim 12wherein the clutch is constructed for a plurality of positive-lock- I'ing positions and the master-controlling I means likewise is constructedfor a plurality of positions of adjustment, for production of shearedsub-lengths of different lengths for different ope-rating conditions ofmastercontrol and clutch; and wherein contribution to uniformity ofsheared sub-lengths` for the same operating conditions of master-controland positive-locking clutch is made by the provision of mechanismcontinuously feeding the stock and operating the driving element lof theclutch at coordinated rates; all whereby the sub-lengths are all thesame for given operating conditions of master-control andpositive-locking clutch, but as many diferent sub-lengths underdifferent conditions can be produced as there are positive-lockingpositions of the clutch.

31. An apparatus of the kind described and as defined in c1aim`12wherein the clutch is n constructed for a plurality of positive-lockingpositions and the 'master-controlling meansl likewise is constructed fora plurality of positions of adjustment, for production lof shearedsub-lengths of different lengths for different operating conditions ofclutch and master-control the sheared sub-lengths being of uniformlength under thesame operating conditions of positive-locking clutch andmaster-control.

32. An apparatus of the kind described andV as defined in claim 12wherein contribution to uniformity of sheared sub-lengths also is madeby the provision of mechanism continuously feeding the stock andoperating the driving` element of the clutch at coordinated rates, Vtheclutch-operating mechanism being of high inertia relative to said smallmass of the shearing mechanism thereby causing effective shearing actionon metal stock notwithstanding said small mass.

33. An apparatus of the kind'described and as defined in claim 12 andwherein contribution to uniformity of sheared sub-lengths' also is madebythe provision of mechanism continuously feeding the stock andoperating'the driving element ofthe clutch at coordinated rates.

FRANK COLE HUTCHINSON,

, Deceased, By THE F. B'. SHUSTER C0.,

y Assignee, v By ELMER F. SHUSTER,

i President.

sor.-

